The World Bank conducted an Implementation Support Mission (ISM) for the Agricultural Productivity Programme for Southern Africa (APPSA) in the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho (24 to 27 June 2024) and in the Republic of Angola (1 – 5 July 2024). The main focus of the mission was on progress made since January 2024 and preparations made by implementing countries for the remaining project period.
APPSA is a six-year World Bank funded initiative aimed at increasing the availability of improved agricultural technologies in participating countries through collaborative implementation of Research and Development (R&D) sub-projects and establishment of Regional Centers of Leadership (RCoLs) on commodities of regional importance. Under APPSA, Angola and Lesotho, are establishing RCoLs on Cassava and cassava-based farming systems as well as on Horticulture and horticulture-based farming systems, respectively. The Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA) oversees the APPSA regional implementation component.
The World Bank team, led by the APPSA Regional Task Team Leader (TTL), Mr Daniel Gerber, assessed the progress on R&D initiatives and construction and rehabilitation works in both countries. After a slow start on construction in 2023, in Lesotho, construction was found to have been completed in Siloe, Mahobong and Nyakosoba regional research stations, whereas Machache and Mokhotlong have achieved 92% and 95% completion rates, respectively. For Maseru main station, the multidisciplinary laboratory is at 80%, office building at 50%, conference facility at 55% while the access road is at 94% completion rate. In Angola, the construction of the RCoL in Malange province, which was at 10% in March 2024, was observed to have reached almost 70% completion rate. The construction firm has committed to complete works by end of August 2024.
At the end of the mission, the World Bank team noted significant progress in Angola and Lesotho despite APPSA having lost approximately 23 months of implementation due by different factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Scientists from both countries were given an opportunity to present the progress of their collaborative research work on generation and dissemination of improved technologies. Angola and Lesotho are collaborating in the implementation of 43 R&D sub-projects and results are expected to spillover across the entire SADC region.
